Compendium of History Reminiscence & Biography of
Western Nebraska

page 256

active part in the politics of Keya Paha county and although a
Democrat has frequently carried a Republican county.

In 1884 Mr. Coble was married to
Miss Eliza Peany, daughter of Robert Peany, a native of Ohio, of
American stock, and a pioneer farmer in Douglas county, where he
has a ranch near Omaha. Mrs. Coble died in March 1889, leaving one
child, Rena, now the wife of Emanuel Boshart, principal of the
schools of Bellview, Nebraska. In 1890 Mr. Coble was married to
Mary Hassed, a widow with two children, William, editor of the
"Burton Independent"; and Walter, a practicing physician of
Springview.

Mr. Coble enjoys the close
friendship of a host of people, and is universally respected. He
is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Highlanders.
He affiliates with the Democratic party.

---->o<----

EDWARD J.
BARRY.

Edward J. Barry, a
successful business man and ranchman of Alliance, Nebraska, has
been a resident of Box Butte county for many years past. He is one
of the leading old timers of that locality and has always been
foremost in the development of the commercial interests of his
community.

Mr. Barry was born in New York
state in 1864. His father, Lawrence Barry, was a native of
Ireland, who came to this country when a young man, settling on a
farm in Dixon county, Nebraska. He married Bridget Ryan, who also
was born in Ireland, and came from the same county. When our
subject was a small boy his parents moved to Iowa and there lived
in different places for several years, then, in 1877, came to
Nebraska, and settled in Dixon county, where he grew to manhood.
At the age of twenty-three years he left home and started out for
himself, coming to Box Butte county, where he took up a
pre-emption and tree claim and opened a ranch which he operated
for a year. Alliance was just starting at that time, and he put up
the third building at that town, erecting a hotel which was called
"The Barry House." He owned and ran the hotel for three years, and
also spent one year in railroading. The hotel is now carried on by
his sister.

Mr. Barry owns a fine ranch
located four miles from Alliance, and he is interested to quite an
extent in stock raising on that place. In 1899 he engaged in the
saloon business at Alliance, and was proprietor of one of the
leading places there. The town "went dry" at the last election and
saloons became a thing of the past. Besides these interests Mr.
Barry owns considerable stock in the Black Hills mines.

Mr. Barry was married in 1902 to
Miss Lizzie Creason, daughter of Carl Creason, a prosperous farmer
of Yolo county, California.

In political sentiment Mr. Barry
is identified with the Democratic party, and is a stanch (sic)
advocate of the principles of that organization. He takes an
active part in all local affairs tending toward the improvement of
conditions in his locality, and is universally respected and
esteemed.

---->o<----

RICHARD
KRUEGER.

Among the prosperous and
enterprising farmers of Colton precinct, Cheyenne county,
Nebraska, none is better known or more highly respected than the
subject of this review. Mr. Krueger has devoted many years of his
life to the pursuit of agriculture in this region, and has been a
potent factor in producing the present prosperity enjoyed in his
locality. His home is on section 29, situated at Colton Siding,
which he purchased from the Union Pacific company.

Mr. Krueger was born in Prussia,
Germany, a few miles from Berlin, April 19, 1855. He came to
America in 1856 with his parents, the family settling in
Burlington, Wisconsin, where he spent his boyhood years. In 1879,
after a short residence in Grand Island, Nebraska, he came to
Cheyenne county and filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres located in section 32, township 14, range 48, on which he
proved up and to which he has since added many acres. Mr.
Krueger's land is situated along the banks of Lodgepole Creek, and
is admirably located for all farming and ranching purposes. He has
put the whole tract in the finest shape possible having on the
place an artificial lake of ten acres known as Krueger lake, which
he has stocked with fine fish. He has a good system of water
works, irrigating about half of his farm, and has a good set of
substantial stone farm buildings, including a handsome ten-room
house, enlarged and remodeled in 1908, and a large stone barn. He
is engaged in the ice business, cutting immense quantities during
the winter months, and furnishes Sidney with its supply of ice in
the summer, having built up an excellent trade along this line.
About one hundred of his one thousand three hundred and twenty
acres are under cultivation, a

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 257

large portion being devoted to the raising of alfalfa, and many
acres are in hayland and pasture, supporting about one hundred and
twenty-five head of stock.

Our subject was married January
1, 1887, to Miss Alice Carey, who is a native of Portage, N. Y.,
and came to Nebraska in 1885 with her father, the mother having
died in the East. Mr.Carey at present resides north of Sidney, in
Cheyenne county. Mr. Krueger and his good wife are the parents of
seven children, named as follows: William F., Elmer T.; Frank, who
died in January, 1904; Jessie; Richard E.; Grace E., and Chester
G. The family comprises a charming and interesting group, and the
home of our subject is one of the most hospitable to be found in
the community. Mr. Krueger is one of the foremost citizens of his
locality, and enjoys the confidence of all who know him. He is
Republican in politics and is a member of the Odd Fellows and the
Maccabees at Sidney.

---->o<----

GEORGE W.
VROMAN.

George W. Vroman, of North
Platte, Nebraska, is well-known among railway men throughout the
western part of Nebraska. He was passenger engineer for the Union
Pacific railway, on the Chicago & Denver special.

Mr. Vroman is a native of
Dane county, Wisconsin, born in 1841. His parents settled there in
1836, coming from near Syracuse, N. Y., of German descent. Our
subject came to Nebraska in 1869, in the year the Union Pacific
railway was completed, the last rail being laid on May 10th of
that year at Promontory, Utah. He had been with the Wabash
railroad for six years prior to this, beginning with them in 1862.
He worked as a passenger engineer up to 1881, then was foreman up
to 1884, having charge of the machine shops. After that time he
resumed his place on the road as engineer. In April, 1877, he
organized the first general committee of the engineers on the
Union Pacific and was elected as chairman continuously until 1905,
with the exception of one term of two years. At first the
jurisdiction of this committee extended from Omaha to Ogden on the
main line, and over all the branches; i.e., the Oregon Navigation
Company and the Colorado Central, but after 1891 those branches
were put under another jurisdiction of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. At the beginning of this organization there
were only eight on the committee, and now there are over 500
engineers in this territory. Mr. Vroman has attended as delegate,
thirteen national conventions of the brotherhood. He was salaried
chairman from 1891 to 1894, with twenty-four lodges of engineers
under him. When the Union Pacific was in the hands of a receiver
in 1894, they issued an order reducing the wages of the scheduled
men on the road, our subject representing the engineers of this
8,000 miles of road, and really, as well representing the case of
the firemen, conductors, shopmen, brakemen and other employees. He
took the matter before Judge Caldwell, at Omaha, in the U. S.
Circuit Court, and the evidence introduced by him covered
forty-one pages of the record. The decision was that the old
schedule was fair and proper, and the receivers' lower schedule
should not take effect. This is the highest court that any labor
question has so far reached, and this was one of labor's greatest
victories. The case was entered in February and decided in April,
1894. The first case in America in which questions between railway
employees and the company was arbitrated, was on the Union Pacific
railway in 1879, at North Platte, with Mr. Vroman as chairman of
the committee of the Brotherhood, he taking the case before the
arbitrator, Captain Rustin, on one day, and the next day the
decision was given, favorable to the employees. From this time the
employees never make a demand, but put their grievances or wishes
in the form of statements and requests. These are fairly
considered by the officials and the matters agreeably adjusted. On
the day the first award was given, a daughter was born to Mr. and
Mrs. Vroman, and she was named "Arba T."

The most thrilling experience Mr.
Vroman ever had in his railway work was when his train was held up
at Big Springs, Nebraska, one night in September, 1877, at 10:30
P. M. The train stopped at this way station, but the robbers had
compelled the agent to put out a red light to make sure. There
were eight of them in the gang, two appearing at the side of our
subject's engine and one at the fireman's side. One was on the
coal tender. As Mr. Vroman saw the gun from above pointed at him
he ducked and the bullet struck the boiler head, put out the
lights and filled his cab with smoke. In the confusion he went by
the window over the boiler to the other side, when the bandits
called for a surrender and he would not be injured. They secured
$63,000 and got away, but five of them were mortally wounded in
resisting arrest, and the other three never were apprehended.

Mr. Vroman was married at
Indianapolis, Indiana, to Miss Mary Jordan, the marriage

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 258

taking place November 1, 1874. Six children were born of this
union, who are named as follows: Blanche E., Clarence, employed in
the Union Pacific shops at Omaha; Walter J., Clay W., in the U. S.
mail service on the same railway; Arba T., and Ralph W.

In 1882 Mr. Vroman served one
term in the town council. He is an independent voter. The family
are members of the Unitarian church at North Platte.

---->o<----

JOHN W.
DYER.

John W. Dyer, retired, is one of
the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Franklin
county, Nebraska. He resides in the city of Franklin, where he has
built up a pleasant home, surrounded by a host of warm friends,
and is regarded as one of the representative old settlers of this
locality. He has crossed the continent from Atlantic to Pacific
four or five different times, each time taking a different
route.

Mr. Dyer was born in Milo, Maine,
and is a son of John Dyer, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and
Betsy Goodrich Dyer, who was born in Industry, Franklin county,
Maine. Our subject's uncle, General Nathan Goodrich, was one of
the heroes of the Mexican war, and Commander Nathan Goodrich, a
second cousin, was with Dewey at Manilla, on the gunboat Raleigh
as assistant engineer for three years.

In 1861 our subject enlisted in
the Second Maine Infantry, Company L and served with his regiment
up to August 5, 1862, and re-enlisted in the Second Maine Cavalry,
Company G, and with this regiment saw service through the Red
River expedition, also in Florida, Alabama and Georgia under
General Steele and later General A. J. Smith, Sixteenth Army
Corps. The regiment was mustered out at Barrancas, Florida,
December 16, 1865, a few months after the close of the war. While
with the Second Maine Infantry he was in the battle which took
place at Yorktown, at Hanover Court House, Fairoaks or Seven
Pines, and also in a number of exciting skirmishes under General
Martin Dale, commander of the brigade, and General Porter was the
division commander. At this time General Mc Clellan was in command
of the army.

In 1872 Mr. Dyer came west to
Smith county, Kansas, locating twelve miles south of Franklin, and
October 1st of that year homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres
and lived on it, farming until 1901. When he landed here, after
filing on his homestead, he had just forty-two dollars left with
which to face winter and supply himself, wife and two children
with provisions, clothes, etc., so he and a companion went to Fort
Dodge, Kansas, where thousands of buffalo roamed through the
plains, and in four days had killed and taken the hides from
eighty buffalo, all they could carry on their wagon. After selling
them at the nearest station he started for home with sixty-five
dollars in his pocket and enough buffalo meat to last him all
winter, and dried meat which lasted throughout the following
summer. At that time there were hundreds of hunters through that
section of the country and had it not been for the buffalo many of
the pioneers could not have survived those times. During the first
years our subject's family lived in a dugout, then built a log
house in which they lived for some time, and being there for
eleven years they were able to build a good residence. He broke up
his land gradually, and by dint of hard work and strictest economy
on the part of himself and wife began to get ahead, purchasing
more land as he was able until he owned three quarter sections.
His home farm of three hundred and twenty acres was brought up to
a high state of cultivation, and he had added improvements until
it was one of the most valuable estates in the locality. He engage
largely in raising and feeding stock, which he shipped to market,
each year disposing of a car of hogs and from fifty to one hundred
steers, this netting him a very snug income. Mr. Dyer farmed in
Jasper count (sic), Iowa, for five years coming there from Bureau
county, Illinois where he had farmed for about a year, and in his
opinion the Republican valley is a much better place for farming
and stock raising than either Iowa or Illinois, as the climate is
healthier and there is no mud to contend with. Here the land is
easier to work, so that one man can till as much ground as two men
can do in those states, while the average crops and prices
obtained for them are equally as good. In addition to his eastern
experience, visited California and Oregon twice in 1904, making a
careful study of conditions there. He took his wife and children
with him on the last trip, and all agreed that there was no
country ahead of Nebraska, so they returned to Franklin and intend
to make this their permanent home. In 1905, after his return from
the west, he purchased twenty-four acres of land located in the
northwestern part of Franklin, and on this built a nice residence.
He has the place in a very fine condition. In the fall of the same
year, he purchased eighty acres of second bottom land lying about
a mile west (?) of (?)

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 259

Franklin. Before he went to California Mr. Dyer bought thirteen
acres located on the high grounds overlooking Franklin and the
river and valley, on which he erected a handsome two-story house,
planting trees and making it into a beautiful spot, then sold it.
He also owned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres situated two
miles northwest of Franklin, which he disposed of to good
advantage. Mr. Dyer has the greatest faith in the possibilities of
this country, and with good managment and industry he has from a
very small beginning worked up to a position of ease and
prosperity.

Mr. Dyer was married in 1867 to
Miss Anna Peterson, of Galesburg, Illinois, her parents being
natives of Sweden. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Dyer, named as follows: George W. Dyer, a prosperous farmer of
Smith county, Kansas, operating a farm of four hundred and eighty
acres; Addie May, wife of Seth E. Roath, of Smith Center, Kansas;
John Clayton Dyer, owner of a fine one hundred and sixty acre farm
in Marion township, this county; Grace, wife of William Gretchell,
a farmer of Smith county, Kansas; Nathan G. Dyer, living on his
farm three and one half miles northwest of Franklin; Anna P. Dyer,
a graduate of the Franklin Academy, of marked musical ability,
holding three diplomas and now teaching music in Franklin and
neighboring towns; Daniel E. Dyer, recently married, a farmer
living eight miles from Franklin, and the youngest, Oliver R.
Dyer, helping his father at home.

Mr. Dyer is a prominent member of
the Grand Army of the Republic post here, and a man of active
public spirit. He is a Republican.

---->o<----

WINFIELD P.
TOWNSEND.

Winfield P. Townsend, Ainsworth,
Nebraska, takes an honorable place among the early settlers of
Brown county, and has enjoyed those rich rewards which agriculture
is ever ready to render to those who engage in its pursuit with
foresight and industry. He has had much to do with the early
settlement and general improvement of this part of the state, and
illustrates in his own experience the value of character,
perseverance and industry as habits of life.

Mr. Townserd was born June 22,
1849, on a farm in Muskingum county, Ohio, where his father,
Jonathan Townsend, had long been established, not only being
engaged in the tilling of the soil, but also following the butcher
and carpenter trades. About 1855 he moved to Vernon county,
Wisconsin, where he followed farming for years. He came to Holt
county, Nebraska, at an early day, and died here in January, 1890.
He came of Welsh and German lineage, and was a soldier in the
Union army during the Civil war, serving as a member of Company D,
18th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He married Martha Goldrick,
daughter of an Irish blacksmith, who married a Welsh girl.
Winfield P. was the fourth child in a family of eight born to his
parents.

When the subject of this sketch
had reached the age of six years his parents removed to Vernon
county, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, in the meantime
attending country school and securing such educational training as
the scanty opportunities of the times afforded. He was familiar
with hard work from his early youth, and was ready to start out in
the world for himself at the age of twenty-two years. His marriage
to Miss Viola T. Chase occurred March 5, 1871. She was born in
Vermont, and came from a family long associated with the early New
England history. Her parents were farming people, and represent in
their own history many of the best traditions of that section
where their fortunes had long been cast. To this marriage were
born ten children, of whom are living: Julia A., wife of Alva H.
Brobst; Myrtle V. T., who married Burdette L. Lovett; Clyde A.,
Lowell J., Alice L., Cornelia, William A. L., and Leon E. M. The
two older children were born in Wisconsin, and all the others in
Nebraska.

While the young couple lived in
Wisconsin Mr. Townsend was engaged in farming, and at times
"worked out" to sustain his family. In 1878 he removed to
Nebraska, reaching Butler county the fifth of July, and settled in
Clay county in the fall of that year, where he lived on rented
land for three years, making his home in a sod house, enduring
such privations as were common to a new country. In 1880 he came
to Brown county, "to look over the country," and was so pleased
with it's general appearance that he made haste to cast in his lot
with its earliest settlers. Renting land for one year, he took a
homestead on section 6, township 30, range 22, in the spring of
1882, and this he soon transformed into a neat and profitable
farm, modern and up to date in every respect. Mr. Townsend in
coming from southern Nebraska, drove across the country; reaching
Brown county he installed his family in a "dug-out," which was
their only home for two or three years. Now he has an estate
consisting. of two hundred and forty

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 260

acres, on which he has erected a comfortable rural home; ample
barns and other farm buildings, a windmill and has provided an
ample equipment of machinery for the operation of such a place. A
picture of the place will be found on another page.

The place is known as "Victory
Farm," from his winning a nine years' contest before the land
office, twice carrying the case up to the Secretary of the
Interior. Secretary Noble settled the contest in favor of Mr.
Townsend, November 16, 1892, giving him a clear title forever to
the land now known as "Victory Farm."

Mr. Townsend began bridge
building in 1892, and has since been actively engaged in this work
on a very extensive scale. He has a complete outfit for bridge
building, including a pile driver and all necessary machinery and
he has built bridges all over the county. Mr. Townsend is a
staunch Democrat politically. He is a consistent member of the
Methodist church.

---->o<----

LOUIS F.
HOEVET.

Louis F. Hoevet, an old-timer of
Dawes county, Nebraska, has succeeded in building up a good home
and valuable estate here through his industrious habits and sturdy
perseverance. He resides in section 11, township 31, range 51,
where he has a comfortable home and is highly esteemed by his
fellow-men.

Mr. Hoevet is a native of Lake
county, Indiana, born in 1860, on a farm. His father, Charles
Hoevet, was a farmer, born in Germany, who came to Nebraska in
1880, first settling in Clay county, later settling in Dawes
county in 1894, where he died January 6, 1904. He married Miss
Elizabeth Ritter, born in Ohio in 1843, of German stock. A sketch
of Charles Hoevet will be found on another page of this volume.
Our subject grew up in Illinois, where the family had moved when
he was a boy, and he attended the common schools during his spare
hours, assisting his parents in the farm work. In the fall of 1879
he came west to Clay county, Nebraska, the rest of the family
coming out the following year, and there they were among the first
settlers in the region. He farmed in Clay county for several
years, then moved to Perkins county, where he took up a
pre-emption and proved up on the land. There he lived in a sod
shanty and went through all sorts of pioneer experiences,
but.stuck to it and succeeded in building up a good home and farm
and made money.

In 1894 Mr. Hoevet came with his
family to Dawes county, having sold his pre-emption in Perkins
county, and here settled on section 11, township 31, range 51. He
is the owner of two hundred acres of good land, seventy of which
is under cultivation, and the balance in pasture for his stock, of
which he keeps quite a large number of cattle, hogs and horses.
His place is well improved and he has everything in first-class
shape, showing good management and improved methods of
agriculture.

Mr. Hoevet left home when he was
twenty-six years of age, and at that time was united in marriage
to Miss Armenta Hiatt, daughter of Riley and Lementine Hiatt,
early settlers in Appanoose county, Iowa. He was from North
Carolina, and married Miss Clementine Jones, born in Tennessee.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoevet are the parents of three children, namely:
Edna, Fay and Helen.

---->o<----

CHARLES
HOEVET,
DECEASED.*

Charles Hoevet, who was
one of the prominent old settlers of Dawes county, died January 6,
1904. He had been in failing health for some time and on the 30th
of December he was seized with paralysis and from that time there
was little hope for his recovery, and he gradually sank until the
end came. The funeral was held at Bethel church and the services
were conducted by the Reb. Mr. Shull of Crawford. The whole
country turned out in respect to the memory of this highly
esteemed neighbor.

Mr. Hoevet was born in
Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany, on the 3d day of June 1832, and
consequently attained the ripe age of seventy-two years, seven
months and three days. He was the youngest of nine children, all
of whom he survived. In 1852 he emigrated to America and for a few
years resided in Indiana and afterwards settled in Kankakee
county, Illinois, where he made his home until the spring of 1880.
In that year he removed to Clay county, Nebraska, and in 1892 to
Dawes county, where he established himself with his family upon a
well improved and beautiful farm east of Crawford, where his life
was brought to a close. In 1859 he was united in marriage with
Miss Elizabeth Ritter, who was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah
(Hammond) Ritter. The children of this union were nine in number,
seven of whom, with the aged widow, survive to mourn the loss of a
husband and father, and all of whom were present at the deathbed
and funeral. The liv-

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

Mr. Hoevet was one of the most
substantial and respectable citizens of Dawes county and his death
will be recognized as a distinct loss to the community.

---->o<----

CHARLES T.
HOWARD.

On the banks of the Lodgepole creek,
Cheyenne county, Nebraska, stands the handsome residence of one of
the leading citizens of that county. Among those who have endured
many hardships and succeeded in spite of many discouragements
which fell to the lot of the early settler of Western Nebraska, no
one is more deserving of prominent mention than the gentleman who
forms the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Howard was born in
Plattsburg, New York, on September 14, 1845. He grew up in that
locality, and at the age of eighteen years moved to Will county,
Illinois, where he acquired an eighty acre farm one mile north of
Manhattan. He first came to Cheyenne county in 1885 and filed on a
homestead in section 25, township 13, range 49, and spent eight
years on that place, making good improvements. He then purchased
and moved onto a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section
31, township 14, range 47, situated on Lodgepole creek, and still
occupies this last mentioned place. Here he has made a fine farm,
and owns in all one thousand two hundred acres, which includes the
original homestead. He devotes about thirty acres to crops, and
has sufficient pasture for the stock he owns. He has erected good
farm buildings, fences and necessary wells and windmills for care
of about thirty head of cattle and fifty horses which he keeps.
The family occupy a fine modern residence, and every corner of the
place shows good management, prosperity and painstaking care in
its operation.

Mr. Howard was married at Mokena,
Illinois, on the 24th day of November, 1876, to Miss Alice Turner,
a daughter of James and Abeygail (Crandle) Turner, born near
Ashtabula, Ohio. Six children blessed this union, named as
follows: Harry (deceased) ; Lila, wife of Leroy Dyke now living in
Portland, Oregon; Winifred, who married Carl Homan, of Sedgewick,
Colorado; Lee, Lucy and Potter, the three last named all living at
home. Mr. and Mrs. Howard are of a most hospitable nature, and
have a family of intelligent. and congenial children, making a
happy family which it is a pleasure for one to meet. Our subject
himself is a man of very pleasant personality, and a gentleman of
superior qualities of mind and character. Owing to impaired
health, Mr. Howard spent the winter of 1908 in southern
California, in which place he rapidly recuperated. He has always
voted the Republican ticket, and takes an active part in local and
county affairs. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and with his
family, of the Episcopal church.

---->o<----

WILLIAM E.
GAMEL.

The gentleman above named is a
leading merchant of Loomis, Nebraska. In 1899 he bought out the
hardware business of D. T. Garrett, and has since that time
successfully conducted the store, increasing his stock, and has
more than trebled the business, so that his patronage extends all
over the territory adjacent to Loomis. Mr. Gamel has one of the
largest and finest stores in this section, handling hardware,
furniture, harness, paints, oils, tin and kitchenware, stoves and
ranges, plumbing and the last year adding automobiles, and enjoys
a great measure of prosperity and an enviable reputation as a
business man and worthy citizen.

Mr. Gamel is a native of
Champaign county, Illinois, and is a son of O. J. Gamel, who came
to this county locating in Lake township with his family in 1888,
his death occurring there in 1894, at the age of forty-eight
years. He was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land
in that township, and was a very successful farmer and
agriculturist. He was by profession a druggist being a registered,
pharmacist, and was engaged in that business, also the grocery
business before coming to Nebraska. Prior to the time of our
subject starting in business in Loomis, he was engaged in the
profession of a teacher here, having followed this for seven
years, also taught in Lake township and the last three years spent
in the Loomis public schools.

Mr. Gamel was married in 1894 to
Miss Helen Potter who, prior to her marriage, was a teacher in the
Loomis schools, and a lady of much intelligence and charm. She was
a native of Owego, New York, daughter of John Q. Potter, now a
resident of Denver, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Gamel have two
children. Mr. Gamel received his education at the Fairmont,
Nebraska, high school, and later attended the Franklin Academy and
Lin-

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 262

coln Normal, receiving a state certificate. Mr. Gamel is a
genial, intellectual gentleman, popular in business and social
circles, universally esteemed and respected.

---->o<----

BERNARD J.
McGUIRE.

Bernard J. McGuire, who enjoys
the comforts of a rural home in section 10, township 26, range 28,
Cherry county, is one of the well known and wealthy residents of
his locality. He is one of the old settlers there and his labors
have become a part of the history of the county.

Mr. McGuire was born in Roscommon
county, Ireland, in 1865. His father, Michael McGuire, came to
America several times on a visit, but spent his entire career in
his native land engaged in farming. He married Mary Buchanan, and
they owned a good home and farm, on which our subject grew to the
age of thirteen years, at which time he came to America by way of
England, landing in Philadelphia. He spent five years in the east,
then came to Nebraska. While in Pennsylvania he attended school,
and also worked in the mines until coming west to Jefferson
county, Nebraska, then went into the Black Hills and was there at
the time of the Indian massacre, taking part in subduing the
insurrection of the redskins. During that trip he slept on the
ground and often awakened in the morning with his blanket covered
with snow. He roughed it for two years in that vicinity, working
as an engineer in a sawmill. As early as 1885 he came to Cherry
county.

Mr. McGuire was married at
Fairbury, Nebraska, January 31, 1891, to Miss Anna Shanley,
daughter of Patrick Shanley, who was an old settler in Cherry
county. After their marriage they went to Denver and remained in
that city for five years, where Mr. McGuire was engaged in the ice
business. He held considerable ranching property in Cherry county,
having quite a herd of cattle and horses, which brought him in a
good income. He acquired his present ranch in 1895, and the
following year moved with his family on the place, which they have
occupied ever since. At that time it was highly improved land,
with good buildings, wells and windmills, and he has continued to
improve it and keeps it in good shape. The place consists of one
thousand nine hundred and twenty acres, all deeded land, and he
also controls one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of leased
land in the vicinity, using it almost exclusively as a stock
ranch, running a large bunch of cattle and other stock. Since
coming to his present ranch the only bad luck he has experienced
was loss sustained through a cyclone which came along and blew the
roof off his house and utterly destroyed a shed on the place,
together with smaller damage.

Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have a
family of five children, named as follows: Michael B., Mary, Letta
Beatrice, Berenice Rosetta and Patrick Leo, and they form a most
interesting family group, all bright and intelligent, their home
one of the most pleasant to be found in the community. They have a
large circle of friends a acquaintances who enjoy their
hospitality. Most of Mr. McGuire's time is devoted to his family
and the interest of his ranch, and while he takes a commendable
interest in local affairs, has never sought public office.

---->o<----

D. C.
SHETLER.

For the past twenty-five
years the gentleman above named has been an important factor in
the development and progress of the section lying south of the
Platte, river, covering Phelps and Kearney counties, Nebraska. He came to Nebraska in 1879, from Johnson county, Iowa,
locating at Wilcox, Nebraska, and in 1886 engaged in the lumber
business at Wilcox, which he conducted for five years. He was the
first chairman of the village board of Wilcox, organized in 1889,
and held the position of postmaster of that town for five years.
Wilcox now has a population of five hundred, and boasts two banks,
two papers, three elevators and a number of fine stores. Our
subject is at present occupying the position of cashier of the
Exchange Bank of Wilcox. This institution was established by him
in 1905, with a capital and surplus of $12,000, and since its
organization the bank has built up a prosperous and growing
business. It now owns and occupies a fine new brick building, and
is one of the most reliable banking institutions of Kearney
county. For the past twelve years Mr. Shetler has owned the Wilcox
Herald, for which he has recently erected a substantial
brick building and installed a new, up-to-date press and job
office, supplied with a gasoline engine, new press, and every
improvement, at a total cost of $3,500 for the plant. This paper
has a wide circulation in the four counties of Phelps, Harlan,
Kearney and Franklin, the town of Wilcox being located at the
corner of these counties. The paper is managed by J. B. Lane. Mr.
Shetler also is interested

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 263

largely in the real estate, loan and insurance business, with
his headquarters and office at Wilcox, and has sold large tracts
of farming lands in the four counties above mentioned, amounting
to millions of dollars. His is the largest agency of its kind in
this section, and has located hundreds of farmers in Nebraska, and
is constantly advertising its advantages. Land in this vicinity
has advanced 200 per cent. in the past fifteen years. Our subject
is now owner of two thousand five hundred and twenty acres of fine
farm land, three hundred and twenty acres of this being located
near the town of Wilcox, one thousand six hundred acres in
different parts of Nebraska and six hundred and twenty-five acres
of it in Iowa. All of these lands are under rental, and he derives
a substantial income from this source. He also owns five hundred
head of Duroc Jersey pure-bred hogs, from the best strains in the
country, and one hundred head of Shorthorn cattle. He has fed from
five to ten cars of cattle and hogs annually for the past ten
years, which he ships to the markets. The past year he raised one
hundred acres of wheat which netted him $1,739 after paying
expenses of $533. He is a strong advocate of sowing fall wheat at
the end of August. He is also a firm believer in the state of
Nebraska as a banner crop producer. Mr. Shetler also has large
interests in Holdredge,. where he now lives.

He was married in 1876 to Ella
Garey and they have been blessed with three children: Ethel, Fay
and Louise. Mr. Shetler was born in Ohio.

A portrait of Mr. Shetler will be found
on another page of this volume.

---->o<----

ANTON
UHRIG.

The gentleman
above named was one of the first to settle in Box Butte county,
and has since the earliest days of settlement in this section,
taken a leading part in the public affairs of the section, having
been the first mayor of Hemingford. Mr. Uhrig is held in the
highest esteem by all who know him, and his name will figure
prominently in the history of the development and growth of this
part of the country. He occupies a pleasant and comfortable home
adjoining Hemingford, and is one of the substantial and worthy
citizens of the town and township.

Mr. Uhrig was born in
Nassau, Germany, in 1847, and his father was a merchant at that
place, who spent all his life in his native country, his death
occurring there in about 1873. Our subject was reared in the old
country, learning the harness-maker's trade and followed the work
for six years there, and when he was twenty years of age he came
to America, landing here in 1867, and came directly west to
Illinois, locating in Carlyle, where he followed his trade for
about two years, and later spending a short time at St. Louis. He
then went to Council Bluffs and Omaha, working at his trade in
both cities, then went to Mondamin, Iowa, where he opened a
harness shop of his own, manufacturing and selling harness.

Mr. Uhrig next moved
to a farm in that vicinity, and after farming for one year left
the place and located in Mexico, Missouri, where he attended
school for one year, striving to gain a better knowledge of
English language to help him in his business career. He later
engaged in the furniture business at that place, being manager of
the store for over a year, and then begun as a traveling salesman
for the firm of Heller & Hoffman, chair, and other furniture
manufacturers, and continued in that work for three years,
traveling principally through western Iowa and Nebraska, having
been the first salesman the concern had ever employed in the
territory of western Nebraska.

In 1884 Mr. Uhrig took
a pre-emption and a tree claim, both proved up on later, and later
a homestead three and a half miles southwest of Hemingford, and
part of that town is now located on what was his tree claim. He
sold the first carload of furniture that was shipped into
Rushville, and in the fall of 1885 made another trip on the
road.

Mr. Uhrig started
farming in the year of 1885, in addition to his other business
enterprises, and the following year opened his store in
Hemingford, dealing in furniture, hardware and saddlery, and he
had the first stock of hardware and saddlery that was ever brought
into the town. He located here before the railroad was built in
and also when the county seat was located, and was one of the men
who went to Lincoln to interview the railroad officials and offer
inducements to the company for bringing the road to his town, part
of his tree claim being presented to the railway company as a
bonus for locating here.

Since coming to this
locality Mr. Uhrig has been remarkably successful, and has
accumulated a fine property through his good management and steady
perseverance. He is owner of six hundred and two acres of land
near Hemingford, also two blocks, a part of the town site. He has
a fine store building

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 264

twenty-five by sixty feet, with a basement and
second story, on one of the main streets of the town.

In 1886 Mr. Uhrig was
united in marriage at Mexico, Missouri, to Miss Augusta Basse. Mr.
and Mrs. Uhrig are the parents of the following children: Nettie,
Frank, Ida, Otto, Winfred, George and Margaret.

Mr. Uhrig is a
Democrat and a strong party man.

---->o<----

CARMEL E.
CHENEY.

Carmel E. Cheney
has been intimately identified with the early history of Brown
county, Nebraska, and is known in the vicinity of Ainsworth as one
of the most reliable and prominent representatives of its best
farming circles. He owes his present forward position to honest
purpose, fair dealing and industrious habit. His father, John
Cheney, was a native of New England and achieved a competence in
Nebraska by dint of thrift and labor. Carmel E. Cheney, born near
the line of Lynn and Delaware counties, Iowa, December 29, 1860,
was the third in his father's family and grew to manhood in his
native state, where his characteristics early indicated a
substantial success in whatever occupation he might address
himself. His parents resided in Lynn and Delaware counties, Iowa,
until he reached the age of fifteen. They removed to Marshall
county about 1876 (?) and to Crawford county a year later. In the
spring of 1882 the entire family came into Nebraska, and made a
home in Brown county. Here the subject of this sketch located on
his present farm property, taking it under the pre-emption law,
later making it a homestead claim, upon which, in due time, he
made all the legal proofs and acquired a clear title. In the
beginning it was a raw prairie, and all the improvements that now
make it sightly and pleasant owe their existence to the
indefatigable labors of Mr. Cheney. For a time he "batched," and
then lived with his father until his marriage, April 8, 1896, when
Miss Ellen McKeever became his wife. She was born in Iowa of
American antecedents, and was a lady of more than the usual gifts
and graces. Before her marriage she had taught school for some
years in Boyd county, Nebraska. This union has been blessed with
four children: Zenas D., Bessie M., Cordelia C. and Earl V.

Mr. Cheney is the
proprietor of a well appointed farm of one hundred and sixty
acres. It is all fenced and devoted to both grain and stock
farming. The Cheneys take a very active part in school matters,
and have been very instrumental in the successful operation of
literary societies, and other intellectual stimulants in the
neighborhood in which they live. In politics Mr. Cheney is a
Democrat and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
of Ainsworth.

---->o<----

JOHN Z.
VAN HOUTEN.

An honorable position
among the pioneer settlers of Loup county is readily accorded this
gentleman, better known as "Jack Houten," by every one with whom
he is acquainted. He occupies one of the large and well-improved
ranches of the county, and is greatly respected in the community
where he has lived for so many years.

Mr. Van Houten was
born in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1857. His father, John Van
Houten was born in the state of New York, a farmer by occupation
and was of Holland-Dutch and Scotch ancestry. The mother was a
native of Rhode Island, and her name before marriage, was Cornelia
Johnson.

The subject of our
sketch lived in Illinois until 1862, when the family moved to New
York state, where they resided for about (???) years, at the end
of which time they came west to Humbolt county, Iowa, where our
subject grew up on a farm and attended the county schools. In 1879
the family drove through with team and covered wagon to Loup
county, Nebraska, and our subject settled on a homestead in
section 27, township 21, range 17. He built the regulation sod
shanty and prepared for the experiences of pioneer life. He had a
team and drove to St. Paul, Nebraska, for supplies and materials.
He remained on the farm, and, although there were three successive
failures of crops during the drouth years, he stuck to his work
and (???) has a fine farm of four hundred and seventy acres along
the North Loup river. His parents lived and died in the county and
(???) were respected and revered by all who knew them.

In 1881 Mr. Van Houten
was married to Miss Carrie Reniff, daughter of Philo and Mary
(Wickson) Reniff, old settlers of Nebraska. The father was a
native of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Van Houten have (???)
children: Burt, Harry, Horace, Jack, (???) Peter, Mattie and Ella.
Before her marriage Mars. Van Houten was a school teacher of
(good?) abilities and she has always been deeply in-

Compendium of History Reminiscence &
Biography of Western Nebraska

page 265

terested in the educational affairs of the
district.

Mr. Van Houten
has been an active participant in local political affairs, has
been precinct officer, assessor, road overseer and has held other
minor offices. He is outspoken and frank in all things and his
stand for advancement along all lines is firm and decided.

---->o<----

CHARLES H.
SAILOR.

Charles H. Sailor, a
leading citizen of Gordon, Nebraska, is a prosperous merchant,
widely known as a gentleman of good business ability arid true
public spirit.

Mr. Sailor was born in
Hancock county, Illinois, in 1864. His father, Richard A. Sailor,
was a native of Kentucky, reared and educated in Missouri, and
followed farming as an occupation all his life. Of a family of
seven children our subject was the third member, and he was raised
in Illinois until he reached the age of twenty, attending school
until eighteen years of age, when he started to learn the
carpenter's trade. In 1883 he came to Nebraska and settled in
Antelope county, where he remained for two years. In July, 1885,
he moved to Gordon, where he took up a homestead situated ten
miles south of the town on Niobrara river. His first dwelling was
a log house and he lived in this for five and a half years,
proving up and improving the place. He had early learned the
carpenter and builder's trade, and in 1891 moved to Gordon and
followed this work for several years. He did well at this, and in
1901 begun to deal in farming implements and has gradually
increased his business until he is now enjoying a lucrative trade.
He established himself in his present location in 1903 and now
handles all kinds of farming machinery, pumps, windmills, piano,
organs, sewing-machines, etc., his patronage extending all through
Sheridan and the adjoining counties. He and his son now have the
finest hardware store in Sheridan county.

Mr. Sailor was married
in 1885, during the month of October, to Miss Lydia Wyman, of
American stock, whose father, Charles M. Wyman, was a farmer. Mr.
and Mrs. Sailor have a family of five children, namely: Ralph,
Ray, Hallie, Chester and Dwight, all born in Sheridan county.

Mr. Sailor is
prominent in all local affairs it tend to advance the commercial
interests of his locality. He has acted as president of Sheridan
county agricultural association for six years, and has served as
county assessor for the past four years. He was a member of the
school board for about five years, and for ten years was village
clerk. He has aided in the bettering of conditions in his town as
when he first came here Gordon had thirteen saloons and about
three stores, and since then the town shows wonderful growth and
improvement. He is a strong Republican.

---->o<----

WILLIAM G.
FERNAU.

William G. Fernau, one of
the earliest settlers in Brown county, Nebraska, is a prosperous
farmer of this locality, and has gained a comfortable competence
and enviable reputation as a worthy citizen.

Mr. Fernau was born on
a farm in Washington county, Wisconsin, March 10, 1855. His
father, John Fernau, was a shoemaker and farmer, who came to this
country from the province of Hesse Cassel, Germany, while a young
man, settling in Wisconsin, where our subject was reared,
receiving a common school education. He was the sixth member in a
family of eight children, and during his boyhood days assisted his
father in the farm work, and thus grew up accustomed to good hard
labor. In 1885 he came to Nebraska and settled on a homestead and
the first building he put up was a small shanty, in which lie
lived for some time. He went to work improving his farm, but the
dry years came on and his crops were all ruined by the drouth and
hail storms, and this discouraged him so greatly that he gave up
trying to do anything, and left his homestead, going to Chicago,
determined to change his occupation. He remained there for a year,
working in a furniture factory and a cooper shop, saving his
money, and then returned to Brown county and started over again;
from that time on he plodded along, slowly but surely, building up
and improving his farm, in the hard times being very careful of
expenditures, until now he is the owner of five hundred and twenty
acres of good farming land, of which all but sixty acres are under
cultivation and improved with a good house, barns, and other
buildings, all his land being fenced, and well stocked with
cattle, hogs and a number of horses. The land is well adapted to
potatoes, of which Mr. Fernau is an extensive cultivator, having
some years five thousand bushels at the digging. A view of the
home and surroundings is presented on another page.